Apple plotting new stores in Grand Central Terminal and Palo Alto

New reports detail Apple's plans for further retail expansion on both coasts of the U.S., with the company allegedly working toward opening a store in New York City's Grand Central Terminal, as well as a new store in Palo Alto, Calif., near its corporate headquarters.

According to The New York Observer, Apple is looking to build a store in New York's iconic Grand Central Terminal, allowing the company to sell products to shoppers at the terminal station located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

While sources reportedly said that Apple is pursuing the new store, it was also noted that the company must endure a "long approval process" in order to open a store in a city landmark. Apple is expected to build the new store right in the terminal, rather than fronting 42nd Street like other stores.

Apple is also pushing forward with plans to build an all-new store in Palo Alto, Calif., near its corporate headquarters, with an arched glass roof similar to the design at the company's store on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Gary Allen of ifoAppleStore uncovered the details for the new 16,600 square-foot store proposed for 340 University Avenue.

Apple first submitted plans to renovate the existing property at that location in 2009, but after receiving approval in early 2010, Apple's engineers discovered that the building has structural issues. The new plan would have Apple demolish the existing building to build a new store entirely, which could open in early 2012.

Apple has an existing store in Palo Alto, which the company's chief executive, Steve Jobs, was spotted at for the iPad launch in April 2010. The new store on University Avenue would reportedly replace the existing store.

Apple has referred to its new store as a "prototype" that will serve as a commons for the community to gather, with a glass storefront that will make the street "part of the store's interior; the pedestrian is in the store before entering it." The proposed glass storefront concept is already a part of Apple's existing store in New York City on the Upper West Side, which opened in 2009.

Ron Johnson, Apple's senior vice president of retail, revealed years ago that Apple discovered its stores were too small, resulting in an initiative that has resulted in new locations being at least three table widths wide. Apple also intends to focus on creating more "significant stores" that attract attention, like its flagship location in New York City which is covered by a glass cube.

the closest apple store to me, in Syracuse NY is way too small. i hate going there because it feels like i'm on a crowded subway car.
i can't help thinking they should by out the adjacent jewelry store and knock down the wall to double it's size.
even then it will be too small.

Apple store in GC = heaven for commuters. Don't have to go out of the way and it gives us something to do if we miss our train because the client wouldn't stop talking. That's going to be one crowded store though.

turtles all the way up and turtles all the way down... infinite context means infinite possibility

I always wondered why there was NOT an Apple store at Grand Central. Given the crowds at the 5th avenue store, I wonder if Apple can make Grand Central an even busier place.... I'm not aware of any large vacant spaces at Grand Central, but thena again maybe they are buying out the rite aid space....

I always wondered why there was NOT an Apple store at Grand Central. Given the crowds at the 5th avenue store, I wonder if Apple can make Grand Central an even busier place.... I'm not aware of any large vacant spaces at Grand Central, but thena again maybe they are buying out the rite aid space....

I always wondered why there was NOT an Apple store at Grand Central. Given the crowds at the 5th avenue store, I wonder if Apple can make Grand Central an even busier place.... I'm not aware of any large vacant spaces at Grand Central, but thena again maybe they are buying out the rite aid space....

I was wondering which space is available too. Regarding how busy it will be... I can hardly imagine. Sounds like it would be bonkers, but who knows.

turtles all the way up and turtles all the way down... infinite context means infinite possibility

the closest apple store to me, in Syracuse NY is way too small. i hate going there because it feels like i'm on a crowded subway car.
i can't help thinking they should by out the adjacent jewelry store and knock down the wall to double it's size.
even then it will be too small.

Apple stores are like the old saying about work expanding to fill the time allotted.
The big stores are just as crowded.

The Palo Alto store is indeed tiny; I think it was store #3. The place is jammed packed. If you drive up to Hillsdale, that store is much more spacious and there are fewer people so you can play with the gear more.

After Apple announces new products, that's the store to visit, not Palo Alto.

I don't know how they are going to incorporate the street inside the store. The sidewalk on University Avenue is pretty narrow, not much room to play around with.

My guess is that the Grand Central Terminal store would have a minimal selection of smaller products, much like the Apple Store in Stanford Shopping Center: iPods, iPhones, iPads, MacBook Airs, but not larger items like the iMac or MacPro, nor large peripherals (like printers).

I don't understand what space they could be looking at within Grand Central because all the stores are very tiny except for the Rite-Aid store (and that is only 10,000 sq ft) and the Oyster Bar restaurant (25,000 sq ft), but I doubt that's going anywhere.

They might actually be looking at space that faces either 42nd street or Lexington Avenue, but none of those spaces are very large either.

So unless there's something I'm missing, if it's not the Rite-Aid space, this will be a very small store, more typical of a mall store than the other NYC Apple stores.

...after receiving approval in early 2010, Apple's engineers discovered that the building has structural issues.

"Bob, you've been an engineer on the OS X team for 5 years now. However, your performance has suffered as of late. I suggest a move into the Apple Store Engineering Department. You'd be responsible for designing doorknob-less doors, hingeless cabinets, and invisible mirrors."

the closest apple store to me, in Syracuse NY is way too small. i hate going there because it feels like i'm on a crowded subway car.
i can't help thinking they should by out the adjacent jewelry store and knock down the wall to double it's size.
even then it will be too small.

I have only seen Tampa's and recently Boston's. The Boston one on Newbury Street was awesome but the Tampa one is also way too small.

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

I don't understand what space they could be looking at within Grand Central because all the stores are very tiny except for the Rite-Aid store (and that is only 10,000 sq ft) and the Oyster Bar restaurant (25,000 sq ft), but I doubt that's going anywhere.

They might actually be looking at space that faces either 42nd street or Lexington Avenue, but none of those spaces are very large either.

So unless there's something I'm missing, if it's not the Rite-Aid space, this will be a very small store, more typical of a mall store than the other NYC Apple stores.

340 University Avenue used to be Liddicot's, kind of an oddball "farmer's market" type of foot court restaurant. I think the original concept actually pre-dated most of the modern shopping mall food courts we're all too familiar with. Wiled away many a useless hour in the late 80s there, mostly sitting on the balcony overlooking University Avenue.

340 University Avenue used to be Liddicot's, kind of an oddball "farmer's market" type of foot court restaurant. I think the original concept actually pre-dated most of the modern shopping mall food courts we're all too familiar with. Wiled away many a useless hour in the late 80s there, mostly sitting on the balcony overlooking University Avenue.

I was actually hoping Apple would take over the old Varsity movie theater, currently occupied by a Border's Bookstore. They could have done something interesting with that space.

currently 340 is still occupied by couple of shops. varsity is small. the floor area inside of borders' is not that bigger than apple's current kipling street store.

pa city is planning a makeover on california street next to caltrain station. at least it is far away from residential area. maybe apple should look a little bit of far to there. or maybe in town center on embarcadero where people, specially family, always hang out during the weekend.

currently 340 is still occupied by couple of shops. varsity is small. the floor area inside of borders' is not that bigger than apple's current kipling street store.

pa city is planning a makeover on california street next to caltrain station. at least it is far away from residential area. maybe apple should look a little bit of far to there. or maybe in town center on embarcadero where people, specially family, always hang out during the weekend.

It's actually California Avenue, near HP, Facebook, and Stanford (as well as my practice , and is a diamond in the rough, but not a big hangout at night like University Ave (yet it will be one day). Best spot for a new business anywhere from San Jose to SF, but not ready for prime-time (and Apple store) just yet. Also near largest ATT store in Silly Valley, whereas Verizon just expanded their store significantly on University Ave.

I don't know how they are going to incorporate the street inside the store. The sidewalk on University Avenue is pretty narrow, not much room to play around with.

I used to live in Palo Alto. Steve lives there, not too far from University Ave. Maybe he needs somewhere to walk.

The university ave store will probably stay. On busy weekends, it is still less busy than the Market st store, though, and that one is huge. There used to be a tiny store in the Stanford mall. I bet this one will get supersized. There isn't much reason to build anything of the sort on Cal Ave -- it is sleepy on a busy day.

Palo Alto is a funny place. You go into a cafe, and there are maybe 10 people on the wireless -- 9 will have macs. Everyone has an iPhone. It is truly a case of "home team."